"Kiran?" Alfonse called out into the strategy room, surprised by the sudden thud under the table.
"Right, sorry, I'm here!" Kiran crawled out from underneath. "I was grabbing my pen!"
"Got it. I came to ask how you've fared interacting with the troops." Alfonse said, walking towards the table and taking notice of all the drafted battle plans and trash bin full of crumpled paper.
"Ah, uh... I mean, it's fine." Kiran answered awkwardly.
"So... it's going well? Have you raised morale?" Alfonse pressed the question, trying to elicit a more detailed response.
"Ah... do you mean like a speech? I haven't done anything like that." Kiran brushed the maps and diagrams to the side, sitting in a chair and fiddling with the sleeves of their coat. "I focus on the little things, mostly."
"You should consider it. Rousing speeches are important for morale, you could motivate them greatly. We do our best, but you're The Summoner after all." Alfonse suggested.
"I don't... know..." Kiran mumbled, biting their lip. "I'm not one for speeches... or speaking. Just, like, in general."
"An army can't fight without guidance." Alfonse said, half turning to leave.
"I'll try writing a speech, if it will help...?"
"Sounds perfect. Sharena and I are more than happy to help. I'm sure Anna would love to, as well." Alfonse smiled.
"Eheh... yeah." Kiran smiled, falling silent as Alfonse left.
Morale within the Order of Heroes steadily declined, as time passed without any words from Kiran. In fact, nothing from Kiran. The Summoner was locked away almost at all times, presumably working on his speech.
Finally, Sharena dragged Alfonse along and knocked on the door of the strategy room, concerned. No answer.
"Summoner?" Sharena called out softly, cracking the door open slightly, then opening it all the way. Kiran was draped over the table as if left out to dry. "What?! What happened?!"
Alfonse hurriedly ran over and shook Kiran, beginning to notice a droning sound emitting from within the white and gold cloaked tactician.
"nnnnnnnnnyyEEGGH!" Kiran threw their arms up in the air in frustration, causing both Alfonse and Sharena to flinch and step back.
"Gods, Kiran is possessed!" Alfonse grit his teeth and grabbed the hilt of his sword, Fólkvangr.
"Cursed with writer's block!" Kiran hucked a thesaurus at Alfonse's sword hand to stop him. "What kind of sick, deranged fiend invented public speaking?!"
"Calm down! It's okay, I'm here to help!" Sharena waved her arms. Kiran plopped back down in the chair, pouting, while Alfonse winced, nurturing his thesaurus wound. "You don't have to worry! Big Sis Sharena is here to help!"
"I'm older than you." Kiran mumbled.
"I'll help you prepare the perfect speech, all you need to do is read it! I'm always ready to help lift spirits, especially in the order of Heroes!" Sharena smiled, ignoring Kiran's comment. "Plus, with a nice speech, everyone will like you even more!"
"It is important to leave a lasting impression, especially when leading soldiers who fight for you. You want them to respect you as a strong and dependable leader." Alfonse said, patting Kiran's shoulder. "I already said we were willing to help, right?"
"Yeah... but if I can't do it alone, then what kind of leader am I..." Kiran sighed, planting their forehead on the table.
"You're a person! And people need help sometimes!" Sharena comforted the depressed Summoner happily. "We'll have you straightened up in no time."
"Thank you... I'll do my best for The Order. I want to make a difference." Kiran stood, with their palms planted on the table.
"You will. You've got all the dedication you need." Alfonse nodded encouragingly.
The day arrived. Alfonse stood among the other heroes, and awaited Kiran's arrival. Despite the low morale lately, everyone did seem interested in seeing The Summoner and hearing what they had to say.
Finally, Kiran stepped onto the makeshift stage, and Alfonse immediately noticed a huge problem.
"H-H... Hi." Kiran said awkwardly. Underneath the white and gold cloak, there were pads to make Kiran look muscular, but with The Summoner's body shape, it looked absolutely out of place.
Sharena peeked out from behind the curtains, giving Alfonse a cheeky thumbs up, but Alfonse was too distracted with how ridiculous Kiran looked.
"I um... I wanted... to give a speech. To you. Of course, eheh... because you're... you're all here." Kiran cleared their throat, reading from the script. "Our cause is really important. Gesture towards the Summoni-"
Everyone stayed silent as Kiran realized what the script said, then physically gestured towards the summoning ruins.
"We fight to protect Askr. And that means... fighting together. I can't tell you how much it means to me that I get to fight by your... by your... oh, by your side. Sorry."
There was some mumbling in the audience, and Alfonse nervously rubbed his neck.
"Ah...heh..." Kiran trailed off, realizing the awful reception.
"If you're so grateful, why did we have to pay to be here?" Takumi called out.
"...pay?" Kiran repeated cluelessly.
As if choreographed, everybody simultaneously looked at the courtyard entrance, seeing Commander Anna pause in the middle of counting coins.
"Oh! Haha! Uhhh... this is just... you know..." Anna laughed, slowly backing away with her bag of gold coins.
"Stick to the script...!" Sharena whispered loudly to The Summoner.
"What?" Kiran asked. Sharena was forced to come on stage and whisper. She then left as Kiran cleared their throat.
"Uh... anyways... I know morale has been down, since I haven't made any speeches..." Kiran said, fiddling with the edges of the script.
"That's not why." Chrom interrupted. Robin tried to stop him, but he shook him off. "We're worried because you stopped visiting us. Was it all in preparation for this- err... speech?"
"Chrom, hush, don't interrupt a public speaker..." Robin whispered, as the female Robin shushed them both.
"I am Ferdinand von Aegir! I too felt concern, and thought you had fallen ill!" Ferdinand attested openly.
"W-Wha...?" Kiran mumbled, holding the script tightly and hesitating.
"It's true. You've been gone a long while. I was beginning to miss teaching you to ride horses." Reinhardt mentioned.
"I thought you got abducted or something! I wanted to hear more about magic strategy!" Lilina called out.
Alfonse began to realize that Kiran's appeal to the heroes had nothing to do with speaking, nor public appearance. Foolishly, he assumed that this mattered. The Summoner was surrounded by people that relied upon them already.
"I... I... T-Thank you..." Kiran trembled slightly. "I really appreciate it... I-I'm sorry! I won't disappear like this again!"
"Yeah, there we go! That's more like you!" Elise cheered. Leo clapped softly in approval.
Following him, the whole crowd began clapping. All the heroes were happy to see the return of The Summoner, to grace their everyday lives once more.
Kiran held the cloak closed and wiggled around inside, before the muscle pads fell out. Once again, The Summoner was just The Summoner. The perfect Summoner for the Order of Heroes.
Following the speech that failed successfully, and the manhunt for Commander Anna, The Summoner was back to normal. Alfonse once more knocked on the door of the strategy room, and was welcomed in.
"Hello Alfonse." Kiran smiled, setting aside strategy diagrams.
"Hello, Kiran. Listen, I'm sorry about the speech, and that whole fiasco. I thought I was helping." He stepped to the table and bowed his head.
"Ehh?! Alfonse, raise your head, you're a prince!" Kiran waved defensively. "It's okay, you did help!"
"I... did?" Alfonse asked, looking up at The Summoner.
"Yes! If you never stepped up, I'd be stuck doing the same thing forever. Strategies, like people have to adapt. Sometimes you have to think outside the box, try something new." Kiran explained. "I know now that what I do is making a real impact... and to never trust Sharena with my wardrobe ever again."
"Ugh... I agree." Alfonse rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I shouldn't have let her do that to you."
"It's fine. Live and learn." Kiran smiled.
"Right, well, I'll let you get back to your work." Alfonse answered the smile with his own. "Maybe you'll grace us with another speech one day."
"Ahaha! Absolutely not!" Kiran laughed, their eyes just barely visible. Alfonse chuckled, then left the room.
